2 use

Are there some stories that are just

too sensitive for soap operas to cover?

Kate Vernon (Project manager)Jessica Stevens (Researcher) Sean Grossett (Content Creator)Leila Siassipour (Presentation and dissemination)

What is a Soap Opera?

• By definition, soap operas are ongoing works of fiction, and episodic in nature.

• In Layman’s terms, soap operas are stories told over an extended period, with different characters being featured at different times

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1375712/EastEnders-controversial-baby-swap-storyline-finally-comes-end-Ronnie-jailed-crime.html

Eastenders – Cot death and baby swop storyline

• 1,044 complaints • But said that “the scenes were not unduly

disturbing or graphic”• Considering the Eastenders audience ‘the

storyline would not have exceeded their expectations given that the soap is known for presenting a range of challenging and, at times, controversial issues’.

http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/News/13868/broadband_speeds_2011_ofcom.aspx

Baby swap story line Complaints

• ‘Distressing’ and ‘Horrific’• ‘An inaccurate, insensitive and

sensationalised portrayal’• ‘Inappropriately scheduled in a pre-

watershed time slot’

• Regulators said – ‘as there were a number of events which led Ronnie to swap the baby, there was sufficient editorial context to justify the storyline’.

More Complaints

• A manner of being extremely controversial, loud or attention grabbing. When choosing to report heavily on stories with shock value or attention grabbing names or events, rather than reporting on more pressing issues to the general public.

Sensationalism

Hierarchy of needs

http://slamscreen.com/2011/09/23/5-ingredients-of-a-truly-great-film/

Jana Bennett, BBC ‘The show is absolutely not

suggesting that this behaviour is typical of a mother who has suffered such a terrible and tragic loss’

Mumsnet

‘A bereaved mother has been portrayed as deranged and unhinged’. (05.01.11)

Mass audiences

•Most likely to accept the preferred reading

•Dramatic and the extreme

•Inappropriate for certain ages?

http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/12/17/should-artists-give-the-audience-what-they-want/

Uses and gratifications

• Cognitive needs• Affective needs• Personal integrative needs• Social integrative needs• Tension free needs

Coronation street

http://slucks.com/?p=79

• Controversy • “Street of shame”

12 years on..

• Younger target audiences may not find it as shocking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollyoaks

Initially panned by television critics and was subject to

adverse press attention BUT was more popular with teenage

audiences

Aired in 1990’s

Are sensitive stories subject to the soap opera they are aired

on?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollyoaks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollyoaks

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a136792/hollyoaks-honoured-with-mental-

health-award.html

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/spoilers/a190256/2721-kathleen-

arrives-in-the-village.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/user/bekbek93/videos

Do some storylines do more good than bad?

Attention received

‘If a single viewer gets help as a result of this storyline then it would have been worthwhile’

Shows the harsh realities of the disorder

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1265150/Hollyoaks-starlet-Emma-Rigby-vamps-superhero-style.html

Desensitising

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3353504/Black-and-white-TV-

generation-have-monochrome-dreams.html

http://thehiberniatimes.com/2011/06/14/watching-tv-increases-heart-diabetes-and-death-risk-says-study/1761

Conclusion

YES!Some are too

sensitiveDoes raise awareness for such controversial issues

http://www.eatingdisordersadvice.co.uk/2011/09/16/personality-factors-that-might-put-a-young-person-at-risk-of-developing-an-eating-disorder/

References BBC, (August 2011) Eastenders cleared over baby swap storyline [online] Available: www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14363208 [accessed 22 January 2012]

BBC, (January 2011) Anne Diamond condemns ‘demeaning’ Eastenders cot death plot [online] Available:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12129846 [accessed 22 January 2012]

Bennett, J. Mumsnet, (January 2011) Mumsnet letter of complaint to the BBC [online] Available:

http://www.mumsnet.com/campaigns/eastenders-cot-death-story [accessed 22 January 2012]

Roberts, J. Mumsnet, (January 2011) Mumsnet letter of complaint to the BBC [online] Available:

http://www.mumsnet.com/campaigns/eastenders-cot-death-story [accessed 22 January 2012]

Chandler, D.(1994) Why do people watch television [online] Available: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/short/usegrat.html#B [accessed 22 January

2012]

Howard, L. Walton, L. (October 2011) The desensitisation theory [online] Available:http://www.slideshare.net/05lewis/desensitisation-theory [accessed 22 January 2012]

Future Hi, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need [online] Available:www.futurehi.net/docs/Maslows_Hierarchy.html [accessed 22 January 2012]